Browsing by Author "Suvisaari, Jaana"

Background Constipation and dyspepsia are disturbing gastrointestinal symptoms that are often ignored in research on physical comorbidities of schizophrenia. Aims Our aim was to assess dyspepsia and constipation in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum psychoses. Methods A general practitioner performed a thorough physical health check for 275 outpatients and diagnosed constipation and dyspepsia. We assessed the possible contribution of several sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables to constipation and dyspepsia using logistic regression analysis. We also assessed whether these symptoms were associated with abnormal laboratory findings. Results The prevalence of constipation was 31.3%, and of dyspepsia 23.6%. Paracetamol (OR=3.07, 95% CI 1.34–7.02) and clozapine use (OR=5.48, 95% CI 2.75–10.90), older age (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.06), and living in sheltered housing (OR=2.49, 95% CI 1.16–5.33) were risk factors for constipation. For dyspepsia the risk factors were female sex (OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.15–3.83), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR=2.47, 95% CI 1.13–5.39), and diabetes medication (OR=2.42, 95% CI 1.12–5.25). Patients with dyspepsia had lower hemoglobin and hematocrit and higher glucose values than those without dyspepsia. Patients with constipation had lower thrombocyte values than patients without constipation. However, these findings were explained by factors predisposing to constipation and dyspepsia. Conclusions Clozapine use markedly increases the risk of constipation and may lead to life-threatening complications. In addition, analgesics and diabetes medication were related to gastrointestinal symptoms. These medications and their association to gastrointestinal symptoms should be kept in mind when treating patients with schizophrenia.